To all whomrz'timayconaemr This invention relates to surgicalinstruments, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a device for withdrawing obstructions from the esophagus or throat of. an animal, -which may have become lodged below the swallowing muscles.

Another object of this invention is to provide an instrument as specified, which includes a flexible hollow tube, and a flexible shaft for insertion through the tube, and further provides a spiral blade upon the end of the flexible shaft for insertion into a vegetable, which may be choking the animal, for withdrawing the same from the throat of the animal without injuring the latter.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view this invention consists in such novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the ac-. companying drawings and claimed.

In describing the invention in detail ref erence will be had to the accompanying drawing, wherein like characters designate like and corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a view of the assembled instrument, showing parts in section,

Fig. 2 is a view of the tube, and M Fig. 3 is aside elevation of the shaft which is inserted in the tube.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, l'designates the tube, which may be constructed of any suitable type of flexible material, so as to permit the same tobend for conformity to the curvature of the throat or esophagus of an animal. The tube 1 is hollow, and has its lower end rounded, so as not to injure'the throat on entering the same.

The shaft, indicated at 5, which is insorted through the tube 1, is constructed of of the drawing. However, theshaft 5 may beconstructed of any suitable type of flexible material, this feature depending upon the desires of the person manufacturing the same.

The shaft 5 has a handle 6 secured to its upper end, and a screw or spiral blade 7 connected to its lower end. The spiral blade 7 terminates in a screw threaded tapered inserting point 8, similar to the inserting point of a drill bit.

In the operation of the improved surgical instrument: when an nimal chokes upon a vegetable, such as a potato, apple, beet or the like, the tube 1 is inserted through the throat or esophagus of an animal until the inner end 2 engages the obstruction, indicated at 10 of Fig. 1 of the drawings, after which the shaft 5 is inserted through the tube 1, and on the point 8, 0f the shaft engaging the obstruction 10, the same is rotated through the medium of the handle 6, which causes the spiral blade 7 to move into the obstruction and obtain a secure grip upon the same, so that, when an outward pull is applied to the shaft 5 and the tube, the obstruction 10 will be removed from the esophagus of an animal without rupturing or materially injuring the same.

The device is particularly adaptable for use in cases where the animal has choked upon a vegetable which has been split or cut in two,,as indicated in Fig. 1, at which time the ordinary manner of forcing the obstruction downwardly through the throat of the animal would rupture the esophagus of the animal, and in all probability kill the animal.

WVhereas, with the improved instrument as described, the obstruction may be rei moved outwardly from the esophagus into the mouth of an animal, for mastication or entirely removed, as desired.

In reducin the invention to practice, certain minor eatures of construction, combination, and arrangement of parts may necessitate alteration, to which the patentee is entitled, provided such alterations are comprehended within the scope of what is claimed.

What is claimed is A surgical instrument comprising a hollow flexible cylindrical tube having its lower end flared and rounded and provided with a V- shaped notch opening outwardly of its lower end, a flexible and spirally wound member in said tube, a spiral blade secured to the tion in the throat of ananimal While threadlower end of the member and having its free ing the spiral therein. V V 10 end tapered and screw threaded and a In testimony whereof I aflix my signature handle on the upper end of said member for in presence of two Witnesses.

5 rotating the same to thread the threaded PHILO M. LOSSING;

end of the blade into an obstruction and Witnesses: force the same into the V-shaped notch of MARK S. JOHNSON, the tube to prevent rotation of the obstruc V ELMERJ. PRUDEN.

Eopiea of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latentw.